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Call of the Estates General
On May 5, 1789 the Estates General was called together for the first time in 175 years. They were called together by King Louis XVI to propose solutions to his government's financial problems. -
The Tennis Court Oath
On June 20, 1789 the Third Estate began to call themselves to National Assembly. All of the deputies took an oath "not to separate, and to reassemble wherever circumstances require, until the constitution of the kingdom is established. This oath would soon have lots of importance in the revolution. -
Creation of the National Assembly
The National Assembly was formed in July of 1789. It was formed by the representatives of the Third Estates. It tried to enact several reforms to introduce Enlightenment ideas. -
Storming of the Bastille
The Bastille was a French prison located in Paris, France. On July 14, 1789 the Bastille was stormed by an angry mob. The Bastille was a symbol of power and rule of the monarchy which is why the people wanted it destroyed. The mob took control of the Bastille and killed the governor then displayed his head on a spike for everyone to see. -
The Declaration of the Rights of Man
The Declaration of the Rights of Man was passed by France's National Assembly in August of 1789. It was a fundamental document of the French Revolution. -
Women March on Versailles
On October 5, 1789 women marched from Paris to Versailles in hopes that they would get bread for a cheaper price. They were armed with pitchforks and pikes. The women chanted, "Bread! Bread!" -
Creation of the Directory
The Directory was set up by the Constitution of the Year. It was the French Revolutionary government at the time. Five men held the executive power in France who were chosen by the legislature, Council of Five Hundred and the Council of Ancients. -
Civil Constitution of the Clergy
The Civil Constitution of the Clergy (First Estate) was a law passed on July 12, 1790. This law caused the immediate subordination of the Catholic Church in France to the French government. -
Flight to Varennes
The Flight to Varennes was an important event in which King Louis XVI and his immediate family attempted to escape Paris in order to start a counter revolution. They did not escape successfully. Their flight to escape provoked charges of treason. -
Overthrow of the Monarchy
The monarchy was overthrown on August 10, 1792. French revolutionaries overthrew the monarchy because Louis XVI was found guilty of treason -
The September Massacres
The September Massacres were a wave of killings from September 2-7 in 1792. People feared that foreign royalist armies would attack and that the inmates from prison would be freed and join them. -
Execution of King Louis XVI
The Execution of King Louis XVI took place on January 21, 1793. Louis XVI was killed by the guillotine at the Place de la Revolution in Paris. -
Reign of Terror
The Reign of Terror was a period of extreme violence during the French Revolution -
The Creation of the Committee of Public Safety
The Committee of Public Safety was a political body of the French Revolution that gained control during the Reign of Terror.Robespierre was the leader of this group which is why he played such a large role in the execution of King Louis XVI. -
Assassination of Jean-Paul Marat
Jean-Paul Marat was assassinated in his bath by Charlotte Corday. Corday did not like the fact that Marat was elected as a deputy of Paris. -
Execution of Queen
Marie Antoinette was executed by the guillotine on October 16, 1793. She was the first person to be executed after the Reign of Terror started. -
Execution of Maximillian Robespierre
The execution of Robespierre took place on July 28, 1794. He was against the death penalty but played the biggest role in the execution of King Louis XVI. Robespierre was disliked by many so he was arrested and sent to the guillotine the next day. -
Napoleon Gains Control
Napoleon gained control on November 9, 1799. The Directory lead to the rise of Napoleon because he was ranked in the military, making it easier for him to seize political power in France.